Process for treating textile filaments



April 1965 J. w. CLAPP ETAL 3,177,555

PROCESS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS Filed Aug. 9. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROBERT C. HART INVENTORS L BY y 4% WM ATTORNEYS April 13, 1965 J. w. CLAPP ETAL 3,177,555

PROCESS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS Filed Aug. 9, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIII 56 JOHN W CLAPP ROBERT C. HART INVENTORS 57 BY Md M fmw ATTORNEYS April 13, 1965 J. w. CLAPP ETAL 3,177,555

PROCESS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS Filed Aug. 9. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 AIR EXHAUST mw m m SUPER HEATED STEAM SLPERHEATED 5 PLENUM CHAMBER JOHN W CLAPP ROBERT C HART INVENTORS April 13, 1965 J. w. CLAPP ETAL 3,177,555

PROCESS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS Filed Aug. 9, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 JOHN W cLAPP ROBERT a HART INVENTORS BY fw-LM ATTORNEYS April 13, 1965 J. w. CLAPP ETAL PROCESS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 9, 1960 JOHN W. CLAPP ROBERT a 1mm INVENTORS April 13, 1965 J. w. CLAPP ETAL 3,177,555

PROCESS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS Filed Aug. 9, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. 8

TOW BAND 5 //9 FILTER JOHN W CLAPP ROBERT C HART JNVENTORS BY /44 WW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 0 3,177,555 PROCESS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FILAMENTS John W. Clapp and Robert C. Hart, Kingsport, Tenn., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 48,443 3 Claims. (CI. 28-72) This invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating filaments. More particularly, this invention concerns a process and apparatus for treating tow made from filaments of a polymeric composition such as a tow composed of polyester type filaments.

It is well known that many types of filaments comprised of polymeric materials as produced by melt spinning or other methods do not possess the desired properties of strength, elongation, shrinkage or the like. Therefore, it is conventional practice in the industry to subject such polymeric filaments to various treatments including heating, stretching, setting and other steps for orienting the filaments and otherwise imparting improved properties thereto. Also, with respect to certain synthetic filaments Which are suitable for use as produced, it is possible by stretching, setting and the like treatments in many instances to alter the properties of such filaments.

In order to accomplish the foregoing types of treatment such as stretching, setting and other comparable treatments, a large number of processes and apparatus have been proopsed. Many of the prior art apparatus constructions have involved so-to-speak snubbing the filaments around small rolls or bars or pinching them between pinch rolls so that tension can be applied without the filaments unduly slipping. Such type of treatment where the filaments are pinched to any degree may be somewhat damaging to the. quality of the yarn. Also in some of the apparatus, certain of the rolls have been heated in order to impart heat to the yarn being processed. However, it is apparent such type of heating may not be too uniform even though one surface of the yarn is first contacted with one heated roll and then another heated roll inasmuch as the surface of the yarn adjacent to the roll may become more heated than the outer surface of the yarn.

One rather simple, uncomplicated procedure which has been developed for treating filament yarn in the form of tow has comprised laying the filaments, usually in a crimped condition, upon a moving flat conveyor through which hot gas is passed. The tow is traversed onto the belt conveyor in order to obtain suflicient hold-up time in a heating unit of reasonable length. Shrinkage in such type process and apparatus is free and uncontrolled. There are also difliculties which may arise due to tangling and twisting of the filaments in the traversed tow. Also, in addition to the uncontrolled and nonuniform shrinkage, the filaments may lose crimp during the processing.

It is believed apparent, therefore, that the development of other methods and apparatus for the processing of yarn, tow and the like filamentary material represents a highly desirable result. After extended investigation, we have found a procedure and apparatus which it is thought is advantageous in several respects over prior art methods and apparatus, particularly in the capability of the process and apparatus of the present invention in producing a better filamentary material.

This invention has for one object a process for the after treatment of filamentary material to impart thereto improvement or desired properties. A particular object 'is to provide a process and apparatus that may be utilized for the treatment of and imparting enhanced properties to filamentary tow comprised of a polymeric material. A still further object is to provide a process and apparatus of the class indicated which may be utilized for the treatment of filamentary tow comprised of a polyester composition. Another object is to provide a process of treating filamentary yarns and tows whereby may be produced a better and more uniform product. Another object is to provide a process and apparatus of treatment of the class indicated where there will be fewer tangled, broken and displaced filaments. Still another object is to provide a process of treating filamentary products whereby the physical properties of the materials may be controlled at the desirable level by the improved control of shrinkage and fiber temperature. Another object is to provide a process and apparatus whereby the treated filamentary material may be suitable for use as continuous filament tow or cut staple. Still a further object is to produce a tow in which the resultant filaments are in a parallel arrangement without'a substantial amount of tangled or broken filaments. Another and important object is to provide apparatus units and arrangements particularly adapted for carrying out the aforesaid process steps. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

A more complete understanding of our invention will be had by reference to the attached drawings forming a part of the present application.

FIG. 1 is a semidiagrammatic side elevation view in the nature of a flow sheet showing the arrangement of apparatus parts for carrying out our process. Anumber of the various units illustrated over-all in FIG. 1 will be described in greater detail in connection with certain of the other views;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a flexible creel unit;

FIG. 3 is also a schematic side elevation view partly in section showing the over-all construction of a heating unit which may be used in our process.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the interior construction of the heating unit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end section of said heating unit;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the over-all unit which may be employed in the present invention for treating our tow to impart uniform shrinkage characteristics and the like properties thereto. This figure is presented to show the unit with the side thereof removed;

FIG. 7 is likewise a schematic perspective view on a somewhat enlarged scale of one of the drums and associated parts of the series of the several drums shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a semidiagrammatic side elevation view of a device which may be used in our process for applying treating materials such as lubricant onto the filamentary tow being processed in our apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 1, 2 is a supply of the filamentary material which is to be treated. We prefer a somewhat flexible creel type of unit (as will be described in connection with FIG. 2) in order that various denier yarns and tows may be prepared and treated by our invention.

The filaments of the desired denier are withdrawn from unit 2 at 3 and passed below and around and over a plurality of rolls or drums 4, 5, 6, 7, Sand 9. Preferably these drums are of about 1-2 feet in diameter and are positioned in the manner indicated in the drawing so that the filaments contact a substantial portion of the drum as, for example from about /2 to of the surface of the drum. By employing such construction and arrangement, the filaments are amply retarded so that substantial tension may be applied thereto without undue slippage. The filaments leaving the last of the feed rolls or drums at 10 pass into and through a heating unit .1 1. This heating unit will be described in greater detail in connection with FIGS. 3, 4 and 5; hence extended description at this point is unnecessary.

The heated filaments emerge at 12 then pass around another series of rol ls'and drui'ns 13, 1-4, 15, 16, 17 and 7 1-8: This further seriesofrolls is of the-same or similar construction as the rolls already described, but are"operated at a'higher rate of speed. -By this arrangementof a plurality of. rolls about. which the fila ir'ientary' material is insubstantial contact thereby resistingislippage, it'is possible by speed: diiferential of roll' rot-ation to apply sfietohin g drafting, orienting and the like treatment to'the fil'airr'ients to. any desireddegree. In general we. prefer .to applysuflicient tension to the fila-ments. so that they are elonga-ted several hundred. percent as for example two,

two and one-hal-for three times'their originallength 'as meas-tiredatpoint 3.1' a I V .1 v

, 'Thes'tre'tched .or' -orientedfilame'nts.asat point lilarc theni fedc'through 'the novel heatt-reatin'g'unit of. the pres+ entlinvent-ion. indicated over-all at 21. Since this unit is described intdetail in .conne'ction With'FIGS. 6 and. 7,'eX+ 'tendedide'scriptionlat .thisilp'oint is unnecessary. The-f urther .:p'rocess'ed' filaments at; 221. are .then passed through ad'evice where y'arn treating materials may-be applied then be: passed to conventional cutters for manufacturing l with the several pairs of fed rolls 443 of F'I GIl, the yarn V 'is 'positioned'againsjt slippage .and may be drafted to the a desired extent. In order to facilitate the dra-fiting, itis desirable to heat the yarn as for example, to a temperature of the order of 100:225" C This may be conveniently accomplished. inaunit; such as, disclosed in FIG. 3.

jRe'fe'rring tQ EIG; lourihe'ating unit is comprised gof,

' an -elongated. upper. 11 asitftg' sr; anje sirnilar lower noustag 152". Thesesee arep s oned slightlyapar-t from each other sin-order to-provideap; elongated flat'slot 53 through the unit so that-theltow band may be passed therer through. r This'elon'gated slot may be closed by the hinged Both the uppi and letter teatime are provided with heating coils 56'. and. 57, the I const uction of; which will be more-a parent from the desc iption of'figure'swhi'ch fo1low.' suitableinlet conduitsare providedat58 and V s9 tor-gsupplyin heating fl't'iid-su'ch-as team to-the appa- ,20 priortto-pas singthe filaments to a crimping'operationat '25; The..fully' processed filaments; emerging at 26 may the:."rnaterials 'into. staple fiber from the"continuous fila= ment-t'owin which the-filaments are relatively parallel. The tow emay bexpassedtol a towpackaging equipment (not shown) where the-tow: may be baled orotherwise' packaged for certain uses. z V r The ovefallfarrar'ig'enient of apparatus and itsfunctioning is believedapparentto a substantial extent from the/preceding description.

concerns .thehmke-Yup of the several individual "units 1 comprising the over-all processing equipment. I i

holding multiple units of the filamentary textile' material which is to be. 'proc'e ssed'bythepresent inventionT-Such gnitsta're. comprisedof.the:several individualstands '31; 32, .33, etc. which are adapted to bestacked one upon the other inasmuchiasgthe. legs of Zthestand are: adapted I tom However; a further under standingilwillbeliad from: the following description which ontothe legs of the other s'tand'sasindicated'at 34. Each of these stands zis adaptedito contain several apkages= of y-arnqas indicatedat36,;37, and 38,"f6r exa'rnp'le. The

exactnurnbrofyarnpackages, the size of the filaments andvthe likedofnot constitute. a limitation onthe present rams. Ah 'ex'haii's t' ditct is"- provided 'at 0 for thc'eXh aus-t steam. A sl n ecial inlet duct is provided'at: 61 for purpos' es of tempving -af'rnixture of s eam; and air from the end'of-theunit y Referring *n' wto FIG; 4,113+, 'va'riousipar't's' already referred to in CO'nneCtiOnWithFI GL-B areindica'ted thereon with tlje sam -numeral designations; As may be noted, the double bafl l'e fcl' anibers'ofi 61 am -e1; on eache'ndot the unit perr'riit theinletof -fre'sh-air"which flowsaround the end ofath'e unitin the chamber; 61 "and then'th'rough the arn peningsor s lots-63'aii d 63 'iii1to the steam exhaust chambers 605131 This keeps the yarnslotSZa under slight suctionand prevents the travelingiyarn sheet from drawing in-.colder -air and disturbing" the heat balance ithini mit r,

In out 1- preferred constriction perforated plates I are providedfa't154and"65fso'thatthesuper heatedsteatn enter new: i H

Referring newts FIG. "5; these reheatingcoils j 68, and

169; niay be better observedjfasyv has the closure means 5.4.

The i strarid or band of tow is" uitabl'ylheated tog for egg 'aniple 100-225; 0,3111 its passage throdgh the elongated slot 53 and'isstretchedfby the tension applied by .thelseve at 66 and 67 is evenly distributed overjre lieating coils eral drawfolls-1348;referred.to in 1.5 Since these invention; It is apparentfronr the existence of the large number ofpackage's that it-is possibleto withdraw fromas manyxoizthe packages asdesi'redsto make up a yarn-or towfor. processing .as indicatdatf39 of any desired denier. Y

The,yarnaas.- withdrawnfroh1 the packages, passes through the several spring guides 40, 41toand through are eye boardionb'ars A2 andAS'WhichLmeans' eImit the ya to move freely. without undue? tangling'. ,Further eye boards KnQYLbQiPIOYided at 44st). that. additional filamentsniay be withdrawn in a similarmanner and combined withthe filamen-ts'at '39. to produce the yarn or towof-the desired denier. I

draw rolls IS-"1 8 and ,tlieir pos itioning are sub' stantiall y 1 jsiniilarto ffeed rdnsj t-aalready described, further descri'pf ar'e fe'djinto our newheat'settin'g aipparatus'over rdllf72 In gc leral-rinfthe;operation of oiir prooe ss we would withdraw sufiicie'nt yarnjfro'm' enou'gh yarn packages to provide a. tow of; the order of 100,000 to-600,00Q denier.

Ourlappara-tusasxjust described 'forsupp1ying'asoui ce of tow toibe treated by our processand appa-r atus islnot advanta'geous for' providing flexibilityf'for" preparing a tow ofcthe desired denier, but is; i1seful inother, fespects lllln the continuous operation of our roce'ss as cine 'group of yarn "packages becomes empty by theflexible arrangement of-the present construction additional stands containing additional yarn may be stacked oneupon the other adjacent to-the 'eye boards and snehfyarn threaded through the retractable guides as 40 am '41 ;to provide a continubi l'y' f' n-...q. v lyar tra d rjtow oiseveral thousand denier; as at 3 9 aforementioned; then passes under. and. around -;roll

11.5; 6, 'etc. referred to above; As intimated. bypassing the band, of filaments around. and; in. substantial; contact filamen s rhea passe' 'a ua a lu a ityof d ums 76.17 79, '80'a fidj8 1 inserie'sr Ih'es'e 'druins arefprefer'ably of relatively ate? d 1 ha the fi ments-a vnet subjected {to bending at xtreme angles, However, the

' width; "diarneterfthereoffmayjto sonieljeiitent depend fupon theljsizle andnuniber of filaments being processed. In general thedrurns ,would befof a diaineter of 375 .feet and ofa widtnettr'ehri-z rc t; 4

Drurn's 77.;j 9 aildjfilare positioned in aJSt'ag'geredoIL jse'trelationshipftofdruins16,.j8fa1id s'o'so thatfthe bllltl of tow, enci-rclesor encompasses from 70% 1590 72 ofthe uponthepositioning of :the druins and the .lik etfactolrs,

bailles which cover /5 to fifof the inner surface of the drum are usually satisfactory. Generally a bafiie which covers of the interior surface is preferred.

The processed tow leaves the last drum 81 through guide rolls 91 and 92 thereby passing out of the apparatus to the spray lubricator 90,. This series of drums is contained in an enclosed housing 93 so as to retain around the drums the heating medium that is supplied to the interior of the housing. This feature of supplying heating medium will be more apparent from FIG. 7. It will also be kept in mind that with respect to FIG. 6, the side of the housing has been removed in order to better show the arrangement of the drums within said housing.

Reference is made now to FIG. 7 which may be considered an illustrative two drum section out of the apparatus of FIG. 6. That is, the drums shown may be considered numbers 79 and 80 which have already been described above as positioned in housing 93. A wall member 94 is provided for fully enclosing the drums. There is also provided an internal wall member 96 for separating the chamber containing the several drums from the heating chamber 97. It will be noted that the drums are supported by a suitable enclosed support and mounting member 98 which serves not only to support the drums, but also as a closure or duct member so that the heating gas may be conducted out of the interior of the drums through openings 107 back into the heating chamber. The exact construction for mounting these several drums in a rotatable manner is not a limitation on the present invention and may be accomplished in any suitable manner.

It is desired, however, that the driving means for the drums, whether by separate motors, belts, chain drives or the like, be such that the drums may be rotated at any desired speed of rotation, which speed of rotation may in some instances be the same for each drum or in other instances the drums may be operated at different speeds.

Heating chamber 97 which for clarity of disclosure has been shown open in FIG. 7, would be suitably closed for retaining the heat and gas circulation therein. Such chamber contains a heating unit 100 which may be in the form or any suitably radiated device. For example, unit 100 may comprise a steam radiator into which steam is introduced at 101 and condensate withdrawn at 102. Positioned above this heating unit is a partition or shelf member 103 which carries therein a suitable fan device 104. Positioned above this fan device are a plurality of bafiies designated overall as 105 whereby the heated gaseous atmosphere may be deflected through opening 106 down onto the several drums 79 and 80. That is, a wall 96 referred to earlier has in the top a suitable opening for permitting the heating medium to circulate into the drum chamber. At the bottom of the wall there are provided suitable outlets 107. These outlets are connected by mounting member 98 with the interior of the drums so that circulation of the heating medium may be through the drum and back into the heating chamber.

With this type of heating medium circulation, the band of filaments on the drum are more thoroughly and uniformly heated while at the same time the gas circulation tends to produce pressure toward the surface of the drum thereby causing the filaments to better adhere to the drum surface. While the process and apparatus will be described with use of air as the heating medium, because of the enclosed nature of the construction, inert or other types of atmospheres may readily be utilized therein as for example, if an inert atmosphere is desired, the interior of the housing may be supplied with nitrogen.

Attention is now turned to FIG. 8 which discloses in some detail the spray lubricator device through which the filament band passes after leaving the heat setting apparatus. This processed filament band now designated 110 passes through device 111 wherein the filaments may have applied thereto various treatment agents exemplified by the following: 65% mineral oil, diethylcyclohexylamine lauryl sulfate and 10% oleyl alcohol.

In further detail, still referring to FIG. 8, the treating 6 agents are contained in the reservoir 112 from which the treating'materials flow through conduit 113 out of the spray atomizer 114.

This spray distributes the treating agent over the band of filaments, some of the treating agent being taken up by the filament band. The liquid not thus taken up by the filaments falls to the bottom of apparatus 111 and is collected in the dish or tapered collecting basins 116 and 117. The liquid thus collected passes through conduit 118 and is filtered at 119. The filtered liquid may then be circulated through conduits 121 and 122 to another spray atomizer 123 in the lower part of the unit. This spray atomizer positioned below the band of yarn permits the more complete treatment of the filaments with the treating agent.

The apparatus is provided with a suitable by-pass line 124 which leads to float chamber 125 thereby permitting the control of the liquid recycle. Suitable pumps may be provided at 126 and 127 for motivating the liquid through the device just described. After leaving the spray'lubricator device, the band of filamentary material is then fed to crimper 130 (see FIG. 6) where filaments have imparted thereto a suitable uniform crimp. The crimped filaments may then be conducted to packaging and/or cutting devices for preparing staple fiber therefrom or other desired utilization of the filamentswhich have been processed in accordance with the present invention.

The operation of our process and the above described apparatus is thought to be apparent to a substantial extent from the foregoing description and drawings therein referred to. However, a still further understanding will be had from a consideration of the following examples.

Example I In accordance with this example sufficient filaments were withdrawn from the packages thereof to provide a tow band of approximately 450,000 total denier after drafting and shrinking. This band which was of a width of about 18 inches was passed around the series of several feed rolls positioned in front of the heating unit. The band of tow was heated in the heating unit by'steam to a temperature of l00-200 C. and the filaments drafted between 200% and 300%. The dratfing was accomplished by passing the band of filaments around the series of draw rolls positioned beyond the heating unit. These draw rolls were operated at a sufficiently increased surface speed to produce the aforementioned drafting.

The drafted band of tow was then fed into the new heat-setting unit of the present invention, namely a unit in accordance with FIGS. 6 and 7. That is, the drafted band of tow was passed under and around a series of several perforated drums of a diameter of the order of 4 /2 feet which drums were contained in an enclosedchamher. The speed of rotation of the drums was synchronized with the speed of rotation of the drafting rolls so that the tow band was fed into the heat setting unit of the order of 10-25% greater speed than the surface speed of the drums. This permits normal shrinkage of the filaments to take place without substantial tension.

Although there is this 10-25% overfeed, the tow band is well held in place on the perforated drums by suction developed as high quantities of hot air -220) is circulated from the heating chamber through the drum perforations. This heated air moving from outside of the drums to the inside then back through the heating chamber where it is reheated, produces a small amount of reduced pressure which is adequate for maintaining the band of filaments on the drums in a relatively parallel untangled position.

As already described above, a portion of the interior of the drum periphery is sealed by the baffles 86, 8 7 and 88 referred to in FIG. 6 which prevent this reduced pressure acting upon the filaments between the discharge point and the pick-up point. By positioning the drums '7 a relative y c sely. g th r and i an fs t rela ion p a s disclosed" in jFlG, 06, the drums will function in "a; self threading manner.

Afterithe t w. band hadpa sed ar u d t -severa d n; ser es-,4 t was; discharge from; th .heat' t ng.11n t thr ug tthespray.lubricate; des ribe in .con e ien wi h FIG. 8" where the] tow band was treated, with a vfilament treatingicomprosition;-as described above.-

from the towtrea fng chamber the band of tow passed con uo ly n -a mp erei e 2 imps; per n suiti g am obj ct ona e t letlc ros fil m n s w re impa ted qtth t ,F om the. r mper the; tow may bezip edz e t er.- tmstaplezifiberi an a ure o the p continuous relatively untang ed rimped, tow may: be

liy redii c;p ckaginalope a ions. i Iv The method of the instant examplegjxhibited certain adv ntag s g sa oll w e T c impo t etewl was b thaaiwit pt o Q LPIQCQS S- W I c imp g p io pr cede ei ea et It w s n c s y t cr mp th KQW: o {he d t t the wh l rit was P s g t eflati e dryer r; e trs sng-i .S ceth i a e t pera ienwremcyed;asubs t -i o nt th c p,

asse nd c imp wa requ r -'1. By 'eepr n inven-.'

tion', h e ee rtw rimpe si e mi ed as well as s c ate p z -;A1 n e p ent proc ss whe e e towaband is relatively 2 straightand v the filamentsparallel, alL e Waythw hf p cessidi cu t e d t c o an t ng e fi ameint areel minate l e ebyic t l to the production of a better crimped product.

1 as t c vent onalyers;resultin -i i p v qualityfor'processin'g O textile machinery it y' amamv' a A modified polyacrylictow of approximately 200,000 denier had been previously SPUIlfiIlddI'flfiCd-IQ attain properties as follows 1.79 grams/deniergtenacity, 257% elongation. Shrinkage in an oven-atlZS? C. was,12 .4%, When this :tow was, heat set in a conventional tow dryer;

at 15Q .-,C.,-,it.shr.unk "25+40% ;-with;tight ends resulting from uneven shrinkage;- E1ongation increased -,to I 47% with shrinkage in} anfove n atil25f C."negligible.

Use of the subjectdmm dryer, on thistow enabled production of a tow -at9;% shrinkage, whileheat setting at 155 C. Theelongation only increasedto 32%; under these conditions, theshrinkage in' I oven atv 125 'C."

was still negligible and-the condition of tight and 'loose ends was completely;eliminated f i p a. a E m ejl a a Ayarn spun-'froin polypropylene with an LV. of .ap' proximately 1. 0 .was drafted-at a ratio of 4.95 m superheated steam' at 160 C.; This 'yar n hadproperties as followsi I 1 yras n th iow ba d-o r: r l f nddrums of relai e y;ila exd am rthefi ame s renot subjectedt sharp, ends.,wlii ll i t p irit enua ity; i th fila= ments. In addition, by the ,presentinvention; it' is; posle qzobta n a; mare. uniform;, eat n a. r ati y short time thereby contributing; to the enhanced quality i Theyarn was continually passed from the drafting operationthr ough aisix' drum heat settingiunitrat 155 C.and

t In accordancegwith thisexample"atowyof uncrimped V po ye t fil me ts. of h ior er of 1 013 0 ot d 'n wa apr paredin the; o m of 'a,:b l ast t; e ativ y par allel filaments 'Ih is'band washeated and drafted substantially as describe'd in connection with FIG. 1. Q

;. The-d a tedtow h nd-wa e ed o t d m t at aspe io approximat ly 9. eetpe -m nu e i p vides a t r eedi 0t:a jtmt,v 12%., -c r a e g s te p ture; o :the hea in gas "was; at a out; 0 C. The circulation thereof; through the drum ,perforatioris airela'x ratio'ofg;875 and collected at Vmeters/minute.

7 Properties were -The 'present invention has been described with particu- ,lar reference toJthe treatment o f polyestertows inasmuch 'as it isespesci'ally suitable for the'proce'ssing of s'uchmaterial. Examples 'of polyesterzm'aterials fr'om'ewhi'ch the filamentary towsma'y be prepared are disclosed in Bell, Kibler and Smith' applicatiomSer-ial Nth-544,639, now US. Patent'No. 2,901,466 However, .the'process and apparatus of th'e'present invention maybe employed for the treatment of'ifil'amentarymaterials composed of other polyrneric compositions; Illustrations of'such other type and p er.a ;.arq dthe-tow: b ndm a e p rf ra umsv tyn i cl xanmun fermlyheate ;t re.-fi. aments.

Th p ssure-d op tthe reatinasa c ss e-perfe ted ums as. apprex m te m win h set wate In' -.-th p r; t nde e mple he i cl flprtim the drum apparatus w s-pf-tl -orde Q 14; sec n s.

, ca edrprepertieset zfi: m .=perr n e and elohgation; I Suchqproperties were, equal tothe opertie 9 co pa a e filaments treated y fp art procedure for; 7 minutes i, at the same temperature.

, In accordance example a 450,000 total denier uncrimped warprwas processed :As;in:the:preceding ex- -a'mple,s,;1tlie filaments'were heated 'and drafited and then V processed in the inew-heat setting unit ofthe p'rese'nt 'in ventiona, In; furtherdetaihfth :drafted warp in: the form of ;a band approximately 18' inches wide was passed through a six drummaehine as illustrated ,in'.FIG..:6 at

th t ofi a-bout yards :perimirtute with'ia' 20'%' oyerteed I This '1 amount; of, oyerfeed :;eompensat ed;,. for the shrinkage of the polyester yarn. The-gastemperahe; resultant yarn produced by the; ieeaiiia;

filaments areas foll'ows: polyacrylic,polypropylene, polyethylene and -modified acrylic. I

"The amount .of drafting applied to the filamentswould be within the range"of"200"to 1500%. The degree'of heating the filamentsduring drafting would be within V withthe 'speedofthe dr'afting rolls or una O t e c ti a I hin; eiheatt s t ng; u

w emanate! "37 a gi sj r i fi a y y {uniformly and qu iolglyiheated the filarneritsvas well as prqvtdea withne reduced pressure forholding the band V 7 5 'off'fila'n'ients against the'perforated drums I The tow rethe ra'ngeof 1009C. to2'20? C.

steam or; saturated;:stean1 astheseqarereadily available heating mediums. However,- any suitable heating medium may be used-.. ,In th'ebevent it is desired that ,thewh'eat setting operation be conducted ;in g the presence of inert atmosphere, the -heatingrgas within the enclosedunit may be comprised of nitrogen; ;canbon dioxide, or. a mixture of gases having low oxygen-content; p s Although the rolls and drums may' beiconstructed, of

the :u sual=materialsv ofeonstruetion, we prefer that the surface of the-feed rolls and drafting rolls be of stainless steelof a composition commercially obtainable astype 304 or 316. Theperforateddrums maybe constructed of stainless steel or other metals depending on the nature of the circulating gas, the fiber and the temperature used.

While we have described our invention as applicable to bands of filamentary material of several thousand to tal denier, our invention is applicable to material of total deniers within the range of 15,000 to 650,000. The denier per filament of the filaments treated may be Within the range of 1.0 to 50. It is believed apparent from the foregoing description that it may be seen that this invention permits the production of improved yarns, tows, warps and the like for several reasons. The filamentary material is maintained in a relatively parallel condition. Crimping before heat treating is not necessary. In the present invention the heat treating occurs in less time and more uniformly as a result of the thin layer of filaments and the relatively high heating gas velocity that may be obtained. The filaments are maintained in place in parallel condition without the possibility of tangling by the suction in the perforated drum which is employed in our process.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but

i "it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The process of treating a bundle of dry polymeric continuous filaments of a total denier within the range of 15,000 to 650,000, which comprises passing the bundle around a plurality of large diameter rolls in series so that the filaments contact at least about one-third of the diameter of the rolls, heating the filaments to 100-225 C. passing the heated filaments around a plurality of further rolls whereby the filaments contact at least one-third of the roll diameter of said further rolls, said further rolls being operated at a greater surface speed than the first group of rolls whereby the filaments are drawn, then shaping the drawn, dry filaments around a plurality of perforated drums of diameter of the order of 3-5 feet, said perforated drums rotating in a gaseous atmosphere heated to 135-220 C. whereby the gas circulates over 10 the dry, drawn polymeric filaments and into the interior of the drums through said perforations and thereby uniformly and relatively quickly heats the filaments and withdrawing the filaments from the last drum to further treatment.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the further treatment includes applying a treating agent comprised of mineral oil, a sulfate and a long-chain unsaturated alcohol to the withdrawn filaments and then subjecting the filaments to a crimping operation.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the dry polymeric continuous filaments treated consists essentially of a polyester composition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,142,718 1/ 39 Dreyfus 28-59.5 2,321,635 6/43 Taylor 28-59.5 2,444,064 6/48 Philipp 28-59.5 2,520,202 8/50 Frearson et a1. 28-59.5 2,673,385 3/54 Williamson et a1 28-59.5 2,695,509 11/54 Masich et al 28-1 2,807,863 10/ 57 Schenker 28-72 2,835,047 5/58 Fleissner et al. 34-115 2,846,752 8/58 Lessig 28-72 2,922,229 1/ 60 Kiefer 34-115 3,028,653 4/62 Evans 28-72 3,032,856 5/62 Fleissner 28-59.5 3,043,018 7/62 Fleissner 34-115 FOREIGN PATENTS 217,487 10/58 Australia.

OTHER REFERENCES Linton: The Modern Textile Dictionary, copyrighted 1954, published by Duell, Sloan, and Pearce-Little, Brown, and Company, New York.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, DONALD W. PARKER,

Examiners. 

1. THE PROCESS OF TREATING A BUNDLE OF DRY POLYMERIC CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS OF A TOTAL DENIER WITHIN THE RANGE OF 15,000 TO 650,000, WHICH COMPRISES PASSING THE BUNDLE THAT THE FILAMENTS CONTACT AT LEAST ABOUT ONE-THILRD OF THE DIAMETER OF THE ROLLS, HEATING THE FILAMENTS TO 100-225*C. PASSING THE HEATED FILAMENTS AROUND A PLURALIY OF FURTHER ROLLS WHEREBY THE FILAMENTS CONTACT AT LEAST ONE-THIRD OF THE ROLL DIAMETER OF SAID FURTHER ROLLS, SAID FURTHER ROLLS BEING OPERATED AT A GREATER SURFACE SPEED THAN THE FIRST GROUP OF ROLLS WHEREBY THE FILAMENTS ARE DRAWN, THEN SHAPING THE DRAWN, DRY FILAMENTS AROUND A PLURALITY OF PERFORATED DRUMS OF DIAMETER OF THE ORDDER OF 3-5 FEET, SAID PERFORATED DRUMS ROTATING IN A GASEOUS ATMOSPHERE HEATED TO 135-220*C. WHEREBY THE GAS CIRCULATES OVER THE DRY, DRAWN POLYMERIC FILAMENTS AAND INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE DRUMS THROUGH SAID PERFORATIONS AND THEREBY UNIFORMLY AND RELATIVELY GQUICKLY HEATS THE FILAMENTS AND WITHDRAWING THE FILAMENTS FROMTHE LAST DRUM TO FURTHER TREATMENT. 